Back to the future

From 1992-95, Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis was the linebackers coach for the Steelers. One of his top players was Greg Lloyd, who ended his Steelers career in 1997 with 53.5 sacks.

This morning, the newest Bengals defender, one of the pieces upon which Lewis hopes the latest reincarnation of his Bengals defense can be built, end Antwan Odom, was asked which player after whom he'd like to pattern his game.

"Greg Lloyd," Odom said.

Lewis, sitting beside Odom at the interview room table, smiled.

"He saw the picture," Lewis said. "He found the picture."

Among other mementos of his long NFL coaching career, Lewis has a photo of Lloyd in his Paul Brown Stadium office.

What does Odom like about Lloyd's game?

"He's like an animal. If you ask me what a defensive end was, it was him," Odom said of Lloyd. "He was strong. He was big, quick, though, everything I want to be."

Lewis can only hope Odom can provide some pass-rush spark to a defense that was last in the NFL in 2007 in sacks per play.